What’s possible

These examples come from real runs in Simplify Edits, redrawn in the homepage’s editor style. Ask in plain words, review what comes back, and keep the final say.

One sentence, a whole rough cut

One request can come back as 33 proposed changes across a 70-second talk. You review them all, then approve.

Simplify EditsWhy I rough-cut firstWorking edit▶ 00:00.0 / 01:10.3Assistant33 changes · 1:10 → 0:3931 seconds shorter · review before applying0:00–0:00 Remove repeat −0.1sSelected media rangeRejectAccept0:01–0:01 Remove repeat −0.2s“um,”RejectAcceptDismiss planApprove all and applyV1WORDSA1

Clean up a rambling take

Make a clean rough cut. Remove the ums, uhs and false starts, cut the side story about the neighbour’s dog, and shorten the long pauses. When a word repeats, cut only the first copy so every sentence still reads.

Codex · GPT-6-Luna · planned in 53 s · 33 changes proposed · I rejected the first, approved the rest · 1:10.3 → 0:39.2

Reading the plan

The agent’s plan lands in three places: the chat, the transcript and the timeline.

Simplify EditsWhy I rough-cut firstWorking edit▶ 00:00.0 / 01:10.3Assistant33 changes · 1:10 → 0:3931 seconds shorter · review before applyingI prepared a reversible plan againstthe current timeline. Review it belowbefore applying.See the cutsDismiss planApprove all and applyV1WORDSA1

The plan, summarised

The Assistant panel after planning: 33 changes, 1:10 → 0:39, 31 seconds shorter.

Simplify EditsWhy I rough-cut firstWorking edit▶ 00:00.0 / 01:10.3Assistant33 changes · 1:10 → 0:3931 seconds shorter · review before applying0:00–0:00 Remove repeat −0.1sSelected media rangeRejectAccept0:01–0:01 Remove repeat −0.2s“um,”RejectAcceptDismiss planApprove all and applyV1WORDSA1

Every change, listed

See the cuts lists each change with its time range and a Why. Reject or Accept each.

Simplify EditsWhy I rough-cut firstWorking edit▶ 00:00.0 / 01:10.3Assistant33 changes · 1:10 → 0:3931 seconds shorter · review before applyingI prepared a reversible plan againstthe current timeline. Review it belowbefore applying.See the cutsDismiss planApprove all and applyV1WORDSA1

Approve all and apply

Dismiss plan drops it. Approve all and apply applies everything you didn’t reject, as one edit.

Taking things back

Nothing is thrown away. Bring a passage back, or trim a word or two yourself.

Simplify EditsWhy I rough-cut firstSource recording▶ 00:00.0 / 01:10.3Working Source FinalWhich, by the way, reminds me, myneighbour’s dog started barking rightin the middle of that recording…Play source selectionCopy text + clipBring removed section backV1WORDSA1

Bring a passage back

Select the crossed-out words in Source and choose Bring removed section back. 36 words return: 0:39.2 → 0:50.3.

Simplify EditsWhy I rough-cut firstWorking edit▶ 00:00.0 / 00:50.3Working Source FinalOkay, so, the thing nobody tells youabout making videos is that filmingis the easy part.Copy text + clipCut and moveRemove from editV1WORDSA1

Remove two words by hand

Select “Okay, so,” and choose Remove from edit: 0:50.3 → 0:49.6. No agent involved.

Formats and write-ups

The same request box changes the frame and writes the titles and description.

Simplify EditsWhy I rough-cut firstWorking edit▶ 00:00.0 / 00:49.6AssistantSet the video format to 9:16 verticaland fill the frame.Canvas · 1080 × 1920Framing · FillApprove all and applyV1WORDSA1

Make it vertical

Set the video format to 9:16 vertical and fill the frame.

Codex · planned in 22 s · approved · 1080 × 1920

Simplify EditsWhy I rough-cut first1080 × 1920▶ 00:00.0 / 00:49.6FrameCanvas9:16 1080 × 1920FramingFitFillPortrait canvas. Same working edit.V1WORDSA1

The vertical result

The stage after applying. Same edit, new frame.

Simplify EditsWhy I rough-cut firstWorking edit▶ 00:00.0 / 00:49.6Titles and descriptionSEARCHABLE TITLESHow to Edit Videos Faster:Do a Rough Cut FirstRough Cut First: How I Edit Videos FasterEVERGREEN TITLESGet the Mess Out FirstThe Editing Trick Nobody Tells You AboutSave to projectV1WORDSA1

Titles and description

Titles, description and captions

Claude Code (Sonnet) · planned in 35 s · written in 41 s · saved to the project

The whole job

Link a video and finish with files you can publish.

Simplify EditsWhy I rough-cut first1080 × 1920▶ 00:00.0 / 00:49.6Your video is readyChecked: 00:49.6, 1080 × 1920, audio present.Why-I-rough-cut-first.mp4Video · MP4 + Description · MD17.6 MBPlay video hereShow in FinderOpen fileV1WORDSA1

Export with the description

Video MP4 and Description MD, rendered in 25 s. The app checked 00:49.6, 1080 × 1920, audio present.

Simplify EditsWhy I rough-cut firstLink stickman-talk.mp4?Original copy: 0 BThe camera file stays where it is.Generated editing media: 28.5 MB10.9 GB safely availableSafety reserve: 10.0 GBCancelLink

Link, don’t copy

The Link dialog shows how much space the generated editing media needs and the safety reserve, before anything is written.

When the agent isn’t perfect

Real runs include misses. Here’s how they went.

Declined, then worked

Change the video format to 9:16, framing: fill.

Codex declined: it said the edit tools had no field for changing the canvas. A plainer wording of the same request, “Set the video format to 9:16 vertical and fill the frame.”, was planned and applied. Models vary; try again with different words.

Catching the agent’s over-cuts

Make this a real rough cut, around 90 seconds. Cut the side passage… also remove stutters and false starts, cutting only the first copy of a repeat.

On a 2-minute licensed interview (footage not shown) three proposed changes would have broken sentences. They were rejected one by one, the rest applied, and three over-cut words were brought back from Source. 2:00 → 1:26.

One sentence away.

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